Colorado

After surviving Hurricane Isaac, I've decided that I HAVE to keep up this blog much better. After FINALLY blogging my Savannah and Charleston trip from Feb/March, I am moving on to my Colorado trip from May/June.

This was my second trip to Colorado and my friend Nicole flew in from San Diego to meet me. On my first trip, someone else planned out what we were doing and I had very little ideas or input. Anyone who knows me will tell you that this is VERY unlike me. I'm a big-time planner. It's just what I do. Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park was included in my first trip, but not in this trip.

Here's a picture of Nicole and I on the Cog Railway to Pike's Peak.

After picking Nicole up from the Denver airport, we headed straight to Colorado Springs. My favorite place in Colorado is Garden of the Gods. I'm surprised that I love it so much, it's not a very lush and 'live' place, reddish-brown rocks make up the majority of the park. As you can see below, the skies are just so close to the earth... I guess elevation has something to do with that....... just a beautiful way to start a trip!

My favorite part of the park is Balance Rock...

We spent the next day doing Seven Falls and Pike's Peak. Both weren't too exciting as I have done them before, but nonetheless, the atmosphere in this state is hands down, one of the most beautiful.

YES, I actually climbed the stairs and lived. Not as easy as it looks.

Now it's time for Pike's Peak... if you're a first timer, you MUST do this. It takes more than half a day, but so worth the views on the Cog railway. Great gift shop, too! Just don't do what I did - CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST. It was snowing so not as many pictures were taken...

On our last day, we drove out to Canon City and did some white water rafting on the Arkansas River...We did the full day and had an incredible guide (despite him intentionally throwing me off the raft!). The views of the Royal Gorge as well as the surrounding wild life are UNBEATABLE.

This was the final trip of the summer until Georgia in August. I had an itch to fit in ONE more white water rafting trip... stay tuned!